Lubricator for sprocket-wheels.



No. 807,731. 'PATBNTBD 111:0. 19, 1905.

' J. M. DODGE. LUBRICATOR P011 SPROCKET WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17. 1904.

2 SHEETSHSHEBT 1.

v PATENTED DEO. 19, 1905.

No. 807,731A

' J. M..DODGB. LUBRICATOR PoR SPROCKET WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. DODGE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LINK BELT ENGINEERING COMPANY, .OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LUBRICATOR FOR SPROCKET-WHEELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed May 17, 1904. Serial No. 208,480.

To all?, 'LU/'1,0m zit may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. DODGE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Lubricators for Sprocket- Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in sprocket-wheels around which pass drive-chains. Heretofore it has been a diiicult matter to lubricate the surface of the sprocket-wheel against which the chain bears; and the object of my invention is to provide Ineans for readily lubricating these parts. This object I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a side view of a sprocket-wheel, partly in section, and showing a chain in section and illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2, Fig. l, with the chain removed; and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views of modifications of the invention.

A is a sprocket-wheel having teeth a. This sprocket-wheel is secured to a shaft B.

is a passage drilled or otherwise formed in the center of the shaft B and connected in the present instence to an annular channel c in the wheel A by a passage 5.

In the spokes a of the wheel in the present instance are passages d, which lead from the annular passage c to the periphery of the wheel. The teeth are so designed that the passages extend to the bearing-surface t' for the pintles CZ of the chain D, which can be of any type of drive-chain desired.

Attached to the end of the shaft B in the present instance is a grease-cup E, made in two parts e e. The part e is secured to the shaft and has a threaded periphery. A passage in this part communicates with the passage b in the shaft.

The part e of the grease-cup has an internal screw-thread adapted to the thread on the part e, so that on turning the part e the grease will be forced from the grease-cup through the passages Z2 and c c' to the bearing-surfaces of the sprocket-wheel.

It will be understood that there is a passage c leading to each bearing-surface t' at one side of the tooth of the wheel, so that each bearing-surface of the entire wheel can be quickly and simultaneously lubricated.

Attached to the portion e' is ahandle @2, by which the portion e can be turned, so that by simply turning the handle grease can be forced through the passages to each one of the bearing-surfaces of the sprocket-wheel.

In some instances the portion e of the greasecup can be turned automatically by so arranging the parts that the handle will come in contact with au arm on a fixed part of the machine, and this arm may be thrown into and out of the path of the handle at will.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a modification of the invention in which there are separate grease-cups E' for each channel or passage aZ, and on onevportion of each greasecup is a star-wheel c3, which can engage a projecting arm. As the star-wheel revolves each one of the moving parts of the grease-cup will be actuated, causing the grease to be forced to the bearing-surface of the sprocketwheel.

In Fig. 5 I have shown another modification, in which a single grease-cup E2 is mounted directly on the sprocket.- wheel, and the opening in the grease-cup communicates with an annular passage in the wheel, and this annular passage in turn communicates with passages leading to bearing-surfaces at the periphery of the wheel. In this instance if the wheel is turning slowly the operator can turn the movable portion of the greasecup,or a pin may be projected into the path of the wheel at the end of the grease-cup to turn it, if desired.

I claim as my invention- 1. A sprocket-wheel having a series of recesses in its periphery forming teeth, a passage leading to the bearing-surface of each recess, with means for forcing a lubricant through the several passages to the periphery of the wheel whereby the joint of a chain passing around the wheel will be lubricated, substantially as described.

2. A sprocket-wheel having' recesses in its periphery forming teeth, a passage leading from the hub of the wheel to the bearing-surface of each recess, with means for forcing a lubricant through the several passages to the periphery of the wheel whereby the joints of a chain passing around the sprocket-wheel will be lubricated, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a sprocket-wheel having bearing-surfaces at the periphery thereof, passages leading from the center of the wheel IOO some1 in the Wheei, a grease-cup eorrimunicating' with the passages, and means for forcing grease from the grease-cup through the passages to the periphery of the Wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES M. DODGE.

fitnessesz WILL. A. BARR, Jos. H. KLEIN. 

